Is famotidine a ppi?

Is famotidine a PPI or an H2 blocker?

Famotidine is not a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It is an H2 (histamine-2) receptor blocker, which lowers stomach acid by blocking histamine signaling to acid-producing cells.

How does famotidine work compared with PPIs?

PPIs (like omeprazole and pantoprazole) reduce stomach acid by directly inhibiting the proton pump in stomach parietal cells. Famotidine works upstream by blocking H2 receptors, so it typically has a different onset and acid-suppression pattern than PPIs.

Where does famotidine fit for acid reflux or heartburn?

Because famotidine is an H2 blocker, it’s commonly used for heartburn and related acid-related conditions, often as an alternative or alongside PPIs depending on symptom frequency and severity.

Sources: None provided in the prompt.